St. Philip's College (United States) facts for kids
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Former names
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St. Philip’s Normal and Industrial School St. Philip’s Junior College |
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| Type | Public historically black community college |
| Established | March 1, 1898 |
| President | Adena Williams Loston |
| Students | 11,655 |
| Location |
,
,
United States
29°24′58″N 98°27′14″W / 29.416°N 98.454°W |
| Nickname | Tigers |
| Affiliations | Alamo Colleges District |
| Mascot | Philip D. Tiger |
| Website | www.alamo.edu/spc |
St. Philip's College is a public college located in San Antonio, Texas. It is a special type of school called a historically black college or university (HBCU). This means it was founded to provide education for African American students.
The college is part of the Alamo Colleges District. It helps more than 11,000 students learn skills for over 70 different jobs and study areas. St. Philip's College is the westernmost HBCU in the United States. It is found in the East Side of San Antonio, which is a historic area for the city's African American community.
The Story of St. Philip's College
St. Philip's College was started by James Steptoe Johnston. He was a bishop for the Episcopal Church in West Texas. He wanted to create a school to educate the daughters and granddaughters of people who had been freed from slavery.
The school first opened on March 1, 1898. It began as a weekend sewing class for six young Black girls. Miss Alice G. Cowan, a missionary, taught these first classes.
In 1902, a very important person named Artemisia Bowden joined the school. She was the daughter of a former slave. Miss Bowden worked at St. Philip's for 52 years! Under her leadership, the school grew a lot. It changed from a simple industrial school for girls into a high school. Later, it became a junior college.
In 1942, St. Philip's Junior College joined with San Antonio College. This was a big change, as it meant the college was no longer a private school. This partnership eventually led to the creation of what is now known as the Alamo Colleges District.
Recently, in December 2023, the college was approved to offer its first four-year degree. This new degree is a Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity.
Exploring the Campus
St. Philip's College has two main campuses and other smaller locations. The main campus is on the east side of San Antonio. It is about three miles from the city's downtown area.
The Southwest Campus used to be part of Kelly Air Force Base. It is now a main place for students to learn technical skills. Classes are also held at military bases, hospitals, and high schools in the area.
Over the last 30 years, the college has added many new buildings. These include a modern theater, a special cyber range for computer security training, and a health sciences building. The Southwest Campus also added a Welding and Auto Collision Center. This helped them offer many more training programs.
In 1996, the Northeast Learning Center opened. This center eventually became Northeast Lakeview College, which is another college in the Alamo Colleges District. St. Philip's College continues to grow and improve its facilities for students.
What You Can Study
St. Philip's College has an open admission policy. This means it is easy to apply! You just need to fill out a student form and provide your high school transcript or GED certificate.
The college offers many different subjects to study. These are grouped into three main areas:
- Arts and Sciences
- Applied Science and Technology
- Health Professions
Students can earn different types of degrees here. These include an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Applied Science degree. These degrees can help students prepare for a job or continue their education at a four-year university.
